TY - JOUR
T1 - Mutations in the gene for EF-G reduce the requirement for 4.5S RNA in the growth of E. coli
AU - Brown, S
N1 - Keywords: Chromosome Mapping; Escherichia coli; Mutation; Peptide Elongation Factor G; Peptide Elongation Factors; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Bacterial; Ribosomes; Suppression, Genetic
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - A general strategy is described for the isolation of suppressors of essential genes whose functions are unknown. This strategy was used to analyze the role of 4.5S RNA, an essential RNA of E. coli. In this strategy, the structural gene for 4.5S RNA is fused to the Ptac promoter in such a way that the strain becomes dependent upon inducers of lac for growth. Mutants mapping to fus, the structural gene for protein synthesis elongation factor G, appear as spontaneous, inducer-independent revertants. These mutants alter the intracellular distribution of 4.5S RNA such that it sediments at 70S or greater. Furthermore, the increased sedimentation velocity is sensitive to the antibiotic puromycin. These results show that 4.5S RNA physically associates with the ribosome in performing its essential function, and that this association is mediated by elongation factor G.
AB - A general strategy is described for the isolation of suppressors of essential genes whose functions are unknown. This strategy was used to analyze the role of 4.5S RNA, an essential RNA of E. coli. In this strategy, the structural gene for 4.5S RNA is fused to the Ptac promoter in such a way that the strain becomes dependent upon inducers of lac for growth. Mutants mapping to fus, the structural gene for protein synthesis elongation factor G, appear as spontaneous, inducer-independent revertants. These mutants alter the intracellular distribution of 4.5S RNA such that it sediments at 70S or greater. Furthermore, the increased sedimentation velocity is sensitive to the antibiotic puromycin. These results show that 4.5S RNA physically associates with the ribosome in performing its essential function, and that this association is mediated by elongation factor G.
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 2438050
SN - 0092-8674
VL - 49
SP - 825
EP - 833
JO - Cell
JF - Cell
IS - 6
ER -